Planting Seeds of Hope: My Volunteering Journey with Brilliant Detroit
In unassuming houses scattered throughout our city, there is a non-profit sowing the seeds of hope for its youngest residents and their families. Brilliant Detroit’s mission is clear and ambitious: to build kid success centers (AKA ‘hubs’) within high-need neighborhoods, with the vision of ensuring that all children are reading 'at level' by the age of 8. My personal journey with Brilliant Detroit (Brilliant) began when I was looking for a way to work with kids now that I’ve retired from my corporate sales and marketing career. Morningside resident, Charon Nogues, another Brilliant volunteer, said, “I know just the place for you.” She was right.
I eased into it, volunteering at the hub on Balfour once a week for their after-school programs. The moment I walked through the door I was welcomed with open arms by the staff and the children. Community Engagement Manager Regina Williams took the time to understand my skills and desires, ensuring that I was placed in a role that aligned with my interests and desires. The warmth and support I received instantly made me feel like a part of the Brilliant family.
As my bond with Brilliant grew stronger, I decided to spend my entire summer with the organization. At 14 hubs all over Detroit kids aged 4-8 came together from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday for “Summer Camp”. With a focus on reading skills, the weekly schedule also included time for arts and crafts, fitness, STEM, outdoor play time and other fun activities. My personal favorite thing to do was gardening with the kids.
We partnered with Keep Growing Detroit to build and plant garden beds filled with an assortment of vegetables and herbs. What a great opportunity to teach about ecology, biology, nutrition and healthy eating, and caring for our planet! Watering and caring for the plants became a highly anticipated event. Witnessing the joy on their faces as they popped a juicy cherry tomato into their mouths or sampled a sprig of basil warmed my heart. It was a beautiful reminder that learning can be a fun hands-on and exciting experience.
I also got to assist with Brilliant's sponsored reading programs, Raising a Reader and Michigan Learning Channel’s Read, Write, Roar. Meeting each child where they are and helping them make strides in their reading comprehension and writing skills was sometimes challenging and always fulfilling. Watching kids' eyes light up as they are listening to a story is a great reminder of how important one-on-one engagement is for their development.
Another highlight of my time at Brilliant has been the National Kidney Foundation’s Regie’s Rainbow Adventure program, which introduces kids to healthy eating habits while reinforcing literacy, language development, math skills, social-emotional development and physical health. By categorizing fruits and vegetables based on the colors of the rainbow, the program made learning about nutrition engaging and fun.
If you are looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community, whether it's for just a few hours a week or more, I encourage you to check out the volunteer opportunities at Brilliant Detroit. Together we can illuminate the path towards a better tomorrow for Detroit kids.